“In the Day of His Preparation”
By W. A. S.
WE are living in the day of God's preparation. All prophecy, fulfilled and fulfilling, shows that the last hour of that day has struck. No wonder that intensity fills all heaven, and that there is not an idle angel. Every one of the heavenly host is engaged in hurrying forward this glorious truth which is to save a people prepared for the Lord. The intensity of the time is felt among the nations. It is the day of preparation for the world. East and west, north and south, the call is ringing through the earth, “Prepare war, wake up the mighty men.” It costs treasure, it calls for the laying down of life. But it is the time of earth's preparation for the great Armageddon; and for the glory of the fleshly arm, and of country, the children of this world are ready to pay the price. The intensity of these times is stirring the hearts of the children of God. That is the most thrilling sign of all. It is a day of preparation among believers. The Spirit of God calls for a forward march into the great field, and the same gracious Spirit is preparing the hearts of this people to go forward. With feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, swift to respond to every call of our Leader, an army of workers is gathering. I have lately had the privilege of spending a few weeks at Emmanuel Missionary College, and a few days at Union College. It is inspiring indeed to notice how the Spirit of God is laying upon our youth the burden of the mission fields. God has wonderfully opened the way among all peoples in our own day, and now he is equipping and qualifying the workers. The same word comes from all our training schools. We have discovered a world to be saved. With eyes uplifted, brethren and sisters see the waving fields, white already unto the harvest. The call is, “Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people.” So, out through the gateways of the home land, out along earth's highways and byways, we are to hasten on to the finishing of the work. Again, as always in the history of God's work, the call of the hour is answered by the coming of the man. Some who are able to do so are going at their own charges. There is a sound of going in the ranks to-day that gives promise of speedy triumph. The call of the hour that brings the men ready to go must also bring forward the man ready to give in order that the worker may be sent to the ends of the earth. This work is the one thing that interests heaven. Heaven has invested its all in it. What else is there for anybody to live for or work for? God is helping us to see this as never before. Yet, how much more might we do if only awake more fully to the times! Even now, this very day, we are holding back workers ready to go, from fields urgently calling for help, because the mission treasury is depleted. But the call of the hour must be answered. God must be preparing his stewards somewhere to supply the means. It is the day of preparation for great things. Let us take the motto by which Carey opened the great era of modern missions, based on Isa. 54:2: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”